First-generation Camaro: what to check before starting a restoration
A unit-body car with a bolt-on subframe — which parts of the job are easier than expected, and which decide the budget.
The first-generation Camaro is a unit-body car with a bolt-on front subframe. That layout makes engine, steering and front suspension work far more approachable than on a full-frame vehicle, but it also means structural rust has to be treated seriously.
Start with the cowl panel and the area beneath it. Water that gets past the cowl vent ends up in the footwells and behind the dash, and it is one of the most common reasons these cars rust from the inside. Then check floor pans, rear frame rails, trunk floor and the lower quarters.
Because the subframe unbolts, it is worth checking the mounting points and the radiator support for corrosion and previous collision repair. Misalignment here is a handling and safety issue, not a cosmetic one.
Finally, confirm what the car actually is. Trim tags and stampings matter when you are choosing parts, and reproduction panels are year-specific — 1967, 1968 and 1969 sheetmetal does not interchange.